BOSTON – The Red Sox are adding some much-needed pop at first base with the announcement on Monday that the team has signed free agent Nathaniel Lowe.
The 30-year-old was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Aug. 14.
A left-handed hitter, Lowe struggled to hit consistently with Washington, the team he signed a one-year, $10.3 million contract with in the offseason.
In 119 games and 490 at-bats with the Nats, Lowe slashed .216/.292/.373 with 17 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 68 RBIs.
In Lowe, the Red Sox get someone who played 161 games for the World Series champion Rangers in 2023, registering a sturdy .775 OPS that year. The Rangers got a big boost from Lowe in that year’s American League Championship Series against the Astros, when he belted two homers with four RBIs. Texas won that series in seven games.
Lowe also played 20 games for the American League champion Rays in 2020, though he played just one game in that postseason.
The Red Sox projected big things at first base from Triston Casas for this season, but that went for naught when the left-handed hitter ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee on May 2.
Boston hoped that Rafael Devers would consider switching from designated hitter to first base, but he declined, which played a big role in the star slugger getting traded to the Giants on June 15.
Manager Alex Cora has mainly relied on a first base platoon of Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez. While Gonzalez has been effective all season against left-handed pitching while roaming between first and second base, Toro’s bat has gone cold in recent weeks.
In his last 27 games, Toro has a line of .161/.216/.253 with two homers and eight RBIs.
Here are Boston’s rankings at first base this season:
- .238 BA (22nd)
- .295 OBP (25th)
- .391 SLG (20th)
- .686 OPS (22nd)
- 14 HR (T-20th)
The struggles have been even more pronounced against righties, as evidenced by the following numbers:
- .212 BA (26th)
- .276 OBP (28th)
- .339 SLG (27th)
- .615 OPS (T-28th)
- 9 HR (T-22nd)
With 37 games left in their season, the 68-57 Sox are in second place in the American League East, trailing the Blue Jays by five games. Boston is tied with Seattle for the top Wild Card spot, with the Yankees lurking just a half-game behind in the third spot.
Along with the Lowe signing, the Red Sox also announced these additional moves on Monday: Rob Refsnyder was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain; Nate Eaton was recalled from Triple-A Worcester; and catcher Ali Sánchez was designated for assignment.